Fears have been raised over the safety Sheffield’s iconic West Street after a stabbing took place in the early hours of Saturday leaving a 26-year-old with serious injuries.

This was the second stabbing in Sheffield last week, following the incident on Shirecliffe Road on March 4.

The owner of Ryan Vintage store on West Street – known as Mr Ryan – said he believed it was “very unsafe” to go out on West Street on Friday and Saturday nights.

He said: “There’s not enough police presence. There’s not enough retribution when they catch the people, so it doesn’t put anybody off. No respect, no education, no law and order, it’s very unsafe.

“There’s too many licence premises as well.”

Mr Ryan also called for metal detectors at clubs and bars on West Street, which none currently have.

However, not all workers on West Street shared this view. Gigi Bright, who works at Guyshi BBQ and Bar, said that West Street was “a safe place to eat out at the weekend”.

She said: “Saturday and Sunday it’s quite busy, but sometimes accidents happen but not quite often.

“I think it is a still a safe place to come and enjoy.”

Sheffield has a student population of over 60,000, making up over 10% of Sheffield’s population. Many head out to West Street on the weekend.

Lexi White, a first year student at the University of Sheffield, said that the incident “raises some questions over safety”.

She added: “But If you are in a big group and you are near the people you with and you act sensibly, I wouldn’t see any problem in still going.”

Two people have been charged with attempted murder following the incident on Saturday and appeared at Sheffield Magistrates Court on Monday.